Books: The Nibelungenlied

t >> trans. by George Henry Needler >> The Nibelungenlied

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1186

Right courteously he greeted / then the messenger.
Gunther and Gernot, / full busy both they were
For stranger and companions / a welcome fit to make.
The noble knight Sir Ruediger / by the hand the king did take.

1187

He led him to the settle / where himself he sat:
He bade pour for the strangers / (a welcome work was that)
Mead the very choicest / and the best of wine,
That e'er ye might discover / in all the lands about the Rhine.

1188

Giselher and Gere / joined the company too,
Eke Dankwart and Volker, / when that they knew
The coming of the strangers: / glad they were of mood,
And greeted 'fore the monarch / fair the noble knights and good.

1189

Then spake unto his master / of Tronje the knight:
"Let our thanes seek ever / fully to requite
What erstwhile the margrave / in love to us hath done:
Fair Gotelinde's husband / our gratitude full well hath won."

1190

Thereto spake King Gunther: / "Withhold it not I may.
How they both do bear them, / tell me now, I pray,
Etzel and Helke / afar in Hunland."
Then answered him the margrave: / "Fain would I have thee understand."

1191

Then rose he from the settle / and his men every one.
He spake unto the monarch: / "An may the thing be done,
And is't thy royal pleasure, / so will I naught withhold,
But the message that I bring thee / shall full willingly be told."

1192

He spake: "What tale soever, / doth this thy message make,
I grant thee leave to tell it, / nor further counsel take.
Now shalt thou let us hear it, / me and my warriors too,
For fullest leave I grant thee / thy high purpose to pursue."

1193

Then spake the upright messenger: / "Hither to thee at Rhine
Doth faithful service tender / master high of mine;
To all thy kinsmen likewise, / as many as may be:
Eke is this my message / borne in all good will to thee.

1194

"To thee the noble monarch / bids tell his tale of need.
His folk 's forlorn and joyless; / my mistress high is dead,
Helke the full stately / my good master's wife,
Whereby now is orphaned / full many a fair maiden's life,

1195

"Children of royal parents / for whom hath cared her hand:
Thereby doth the country / in plight full sorry stand.
Alack, nor is there other / that them with love may tend.
I ween the time long distant / eke when the monarch's grief shall end."

1196

"God give him meed," spake Gunther, / "that he so willingly
Doth offer thus good service / to my kinsmen and to me--
I joy that I his greeting / here have heard this day--
The which with glad endeavor / my kinsmen and my men shall pay."

1197

Thereto the knight of Burgundy, / the valiant Gernot, said:
"The world may ever rue it / that Helke fair lies dead,
So manifold the virtues / that did her life adorn."
A willing testimony / by Hagen to the words was borne.

1198

Thereto again spake Ruediger / the noble messenger:
"Since thou, O king, dost grant it, / shalt thou now further hear
What message 'tis my master / beloved hath hither sent,
For that since death of Helke / his days he hath in sorrow spent.

1199

"'Tis told my lord that Kriemhild / doth widowed live alone,
And dead is doughty Siegfried. / May now such thing be done,
And wilt thou grant that favor, / a crown she then shall wear
Before the knights of Etzel: / this message from my lord I bear."

1200

Then spake the mighty monarch / --a king he was of grace--
"My will in this same matter / she'll hear, an so she please.
Thereof will I instruct thee / ere three days are passed by--
Ere I her mind have sounded, / wherefore to Etzel this deny?"

1201

Meanwhile for the strangers / bade they make cheer the best
In sooth so were they tended / that Ruediger confessed
He had 'mong men of Gunther / of friends a goodly store.
Hagen full glad did serve him, / as he had Hagen served of yore.

1202

Thus there did tarry Ruediger / until the third day.
The king did counsel summon / --he moved in wisest way--
If that unto his kinsmen / seemed it fitting thing,
That Kriemhild take unto her / for spouse Etzel the king.

1203

Together all save Hagen / did the thing advise,
And unto King Gunther / spake he in this wise:
"An hast thou still thy senses, / of that same thing beware,
That, be she ne'er so willing, / thou lend'st thyself her will to share."

1204

"Wherefore," spake then Gunther, / "should I allow it not?
Whene'er doth fortune favor / Kriemhild in aught,
That shall I gladly grant her, / for sister dear is she.
Yea, ought ourselves to seek it, / might it but her honor be."

1205

Thereto gave answer Hagen: / "Now such words give o'er.
Were Etzel known unto thee / as unto me of yore,
And did'st thou grant her to him, / as 'tis thy will I hear,
Then wouldst thou first have reason / for thy later weal to fear."

1206

"Wherefore?" spake then Gunther. / "Well may I care for that,
E'er to thwart his temper / that so I aught of hate
At his hands should merit, / an if his wife she be."
Thereto gave answer Hagen: / "Such counsel hast thou ne'er of me."

1207

Then did they bid for Gernot / and Giselher to go,
For wished they of the royal / twain their mind to know,
If that the mighty monarch / Kriemhild for spouse should take.
Yet Hagen and none other / thereto did opposition make.

1208

Then spake of Burgundy / Giselher the thane:
"Well may'st thou now, friend Hagen, / show upright mind again:
For sorrows wrought upon her / may'st thou her well requite.
Howe'er she findeth fortune, / ne'er should it be in thy despite."

1209

"Yea, hast thou to my sister / so many sorrows done,"
So spake further Giselher, / the full noble thane,
"That fullest reason hath she / to mete thee naught but hate.
In sooth was never lady / than she bereft of joy more great."

1210

"What I do know full certain, / that known to all I make:
If e'er shall come the hour / that she do Etzel take,
She'll work us yet sore evil, / howe'er the same she plan.
Then in sooth will serve her / full many a keen and doughty man."

1211

In answer then to Hagen / the brave Gernot said:
"With us doth lie to leave it / until they both be dead,
Ere that we ride ever / unto Etzel's land.
That we be faithful to her / doth honor meantime sure command."

1212

Thereto again spake Hagen: / "Gainsay me here may none.
And shall the noble Kriemhild / e'er sit 'neath Helke's crown,
Howe'er she that accomplish, / she'll do us grievous hurt.
Good knights, therefrom to keep you / doth better with your weal
consort."

1213

In anger spake then Giselher / the son of Ute the fair:
"None shall yet among us / himself like traitor bear.
What honor e'er befall her, / rejoice thereat should we.
Whate'er thou sayest, Hagen, / true helper shall she find in me."

1214

When that heard it Hagen / straightway waxed he wroth.
Gernot and Giselher / the knights high-minded both,
And Gunther, mighty monarch, / did counsel finally,
If that did wish it Kriemhild, / by them 'twould unopposed be.

1215

Then spake the margrave Gere: / "That lady will I tell
How that of royal Etzel / she may think full well.
In fear are subject to him / brave warriors many a one:
Well may he recompense her / for wrong that e'er to her was done."

1216

Then went the knight full valiant / where he did Kriemhild find,
And straightway spake unto her / upon her greeting kind:
"Me may'st thou gladly welcome / with messengers high meed.
Fortune hath come to part thee / now from all thy bitter need.

1217

"For sake of love he bears thee, / lady, doth seek thy hand
One of all the highest / that e'er o'er monarch's land
Did rule in fullest honor, / or ever crown might wear:
High knights do bring the message, / which same thy brother bids thee
hear."

1218

Then spake she rich in sorrow: / "Now God forbid to thee
And all I have of kinsmen / that aught of mockery
They do on me, poor woman. / What were I unto one,
Who e'er at heart the joyance / of a noble wife hath known?"

1219

Much did she speak against it. / Anon as well came there
Gernot her brother / and the young Giselher.
In loving wise they begged her / her mourning heart to cheer:
An would she take the monarch, / verily her weal it were.

1220

Yet might not then by any / the lady's mind be bent,
That any man soever / to love she would consent.
Thereon the thanes besought her: / "Now grant the thing to be,
An dost thou nothing further, / that the messenger thou deign'st to see."

1221

"That will I not deny you," / spake the high lady,
"That the noble Ruediger / I full gladly see,
Such knightly grace adorns him. / Were he not messenger,
And came there other hither / by him I all unspoken were."

1222

She spake: "Upon the morrow / bid him hither fare
Unto this my chamber. / Then shall he fully hear
How that do stand my wishes, / the which I'll tell him true."
Of her full grievous sorrow / was she minded thus anew.

1223

Eke not else desired / the noble Ruediger
Than that by the lady / leave thus granted were:
He knew himself so skilful, / might he such favor earn,
So should he her full certain / from her spoken purpose turn.

1224

Upon the morrow early / when that the mass was sung
Came the noble messengers, / whereof a mickle throng.
They that should Sir Ruediger / to court bear company,
Many a man full stately / in rich apparel might ye see.

1225

Kriemhild, dame high-stated, / --full sad she was of mood--
There Ruediger awaited, / the noble knight and good.
He found her in such raiment / as daily she did wear:
The while were her attendants / in dresses clad full rich and rare,

1226

Unto the threshold went she / the noble guest to meet,
And the man of Etzel / did she full kindly greet.
Twelve knights there did enter, / himself and eleven more,
And well were they received: / to her such guests came ne'er before.

1227

The messenger to seat him / and his men they gave command.
The twain valiant margraves / saw ye before her stand,
Eckewart and Gere, / the noble knights and keen,
Such was the lady's sorrow, / none saw ye there of cheerful mien.

1228

They saw before her sitting / full many a lady fair,
And yet the Lady Kriemhild / did naught but sorrow there.
The dress upon her bosom / was wet with tears that fell,
And soon the noble margrave / perceived her mickle grief full well.

1229

Then spake the lofty messenger: / "Daughter of king full high,
To me and these my fellows / that bear me company
Deign now the grace to grant us / that we before thee stand
And tell to thee the tidings / wherefore we rode unto thy land."

1230

"That grace to thee is granted," / spake the lofty queen;
"Whate'er may be thy message, / I'll let it now be seen
That I do hear it gladly: / thou'rt welcome messenger."
That fruitless was their errand / deemed the others well to hear.

1231

Then spake of Bechelaren / the noble Ruediger:
"Pledge of true love unto thee / from lofty king I bear,
Etzel who bids thee, lady, / here royal compliment:
He hath to woo thy favor / knights full worthy hither sent.

1232

"His love to thee he offers / full heartily and free:
Fidelity that lasteth / he plighteth unto thee,
As erst to Lady Helke / who o'er his heart held sway.
Yea, thinking on her virtues / hath he full oft had joyless day."

1233

Then spake the royal lady: / "O Margrave Ruediger,
If that known to any / my sharp sorrows were,
Besought then were I never / again to take me spouse.
Such ne'er was won by lady / as the husband I did lose."

1234

"What is that sootheth sorrow," / the valiant knight replied,
"An be't not loving friendship / whene'er that may betide,
And that each mortal choose him / who his delight shall be?
Naught is that so availeth / to keep the heart from sorrow free.

1235

"Wilt thou minded be to love him, / this noble master mine,
O'er mighty crowns a dozen / the power shall be thine.
Thereto of princes thirty / my lord shall give thee land,
The which hath all subdued / the prowess of his doughty hand.

1236

"O'er many a knight full worthy / eke mistress shalt thou be
That my Lady Helke / did serve right faithfully,
And over many a lady / that served amid her train,
Of high and royal lineage," / spake the keen and valiant thane.

1237

"Thereto my lord will give thee / --he bids to thee make known--
If that beside the monarch / thou deign'st to wear a crown,
Power in fullest measure / that Helke e'er might boast:
The same in lordly manner / shalt thou wield o'er Etzel's host."

1238

Then spake the royal lady: / "How might again my life
Have thereof desire / to be a hero's wife?
Hath death in one already / wrought me such sorrows sore,
That joyless must my days be / from this time for evermore."

1239

Then spake the men of Hunland: / "O royal high lady,
Thy life shall there by Etzel / so full of honor be
Thy heart 'twill ever gladden / if but may be such thing:
Full many a thane right stately / doth homage to the mighty king.

1240

"Might but Helke's maidens / and they that wait on thee
E'er be joined together / in one royal company,
Well might brave knights to see them / wax merry in their mood.
Be, lady, now persuaded / --'tis verily thy surest good."

1241

She spake in courteous manner: / "Let further parley be
Until doth come the morrow. / Then hither come to me.
So will I give my answer / to bear upon your way."
The noble knights and worthy / must straight therein her will obey.

1242

When all from thence were parted / and had their lodgings sought,
Then bade the noble lady / that Giselher be brought,
And eke with him her mother. / To both she then did tell
That meet for her was weeping, / and naught might fit her mood so well.

1243

Then spake her brother Giselher: / "Sister, to me 'tis told--
And well may I believe it-- / that thy grief manifold
Etzel complete will scatter, / an tak'st thou him for man.
Whate'er be other's counsel, / meseems it were a thing well done."

1244

Further eke spake Giselher: / "Console thee well may he.
From Rhone unto Rhine river, / from Elbe unto the sea,
King there is none other / that holds so lordly sway.
An he for spouse do take thee, / gladden thee full well he may."

1245

"Brother loved full dearly, / wherefore dost counsel it?
To mourn and weep forever / doth better me befit.
How may I 'mid warriors / appear in royal state?
Was ever fair my body, / of beauty now 'tis desolate."

1246

Then spake the Lady Ute / her daughter dear unto:
"The thing thy brother counsels, / my loving child, that do.
By thy friends be guided, / then with thee well 'twill be.
Long time it now hath grieved me / thee thus disconsolate to see."

1247

Then prayed she God with fervor / that he might her provide
With store of gold and silver / and raiment rich beside,
As erstwhile when her husband / did live a stately thane:
Since then so happy hour / never had she known again.

1248

In her own bosom thought she: / "An shall I not deny
My body to a heathen / --a Christian lady I--
So must I while life lasteth / have shame to be my own.
An gave he realms unnumbered, / such thing by me might ne'er be done."

1249

And there withal she left it. / The night through until day,
Upon her couch the lady / with mind full troubled lay.
Nor yet her eyes full shining / of tears at all were free,
Until upon the morrow / forth to matins issued she.

1250

When for mass was sounded, / came there the kings likewise.
Again did they their sister / by faithful word advise
To take for spouse unto her / of Hunland the king.
All joyless was the visage / they saw the lady thither bring.

1251

They bade the men of Etzel / thither lead again,
Who unto their country / fain their leave had ta'en,
Their message won or fruitless, / how that soe'er might be.
Unto the court came Ruediger. / Full eager were his company

1252

By the knight to be informed / how the thing befell,
And if betimes they knew it / 'twould please them all full well,
For weary was the journey / and long unto their land.
Soon did the noble Ruediger / again in Kriemhild's presence stand.

1253

In full earnest manner / then the knight gan pray
The high royal lady / that she to him might say
What were from her the message / to Etzel he should bear.
Naught but denial only / did he from the lady hear,

1254

For that her love might never / by man again be won.
Thereto spake the margrave: / "Ill such thing were done.
Wherefore such fair body / wilt thou to ruin give?
Spouse of knight full worthy / may'st thou yet in honor live."

1255

Naught booted how they besought her, / till that Ruediger
Spake in secret manner / in the high lady's ear,
How Etzel should requite her / for ills she e'er did know.
Then gan her mickle sorrow / milder at the thought to grow.

1256

Unto the queen then spake he: / "Let now thy weeping be.
If 'mong the Huns hadst thou / other none than me
And my faithful kinsmen / and my good men alone,
Sorely must he repay it / who hath aught to thee of evil done."

1257

Thereat apace all lighter / the lady's sorrow grew,
She spake: "So swear thou truly, / what any 'gainst me do,
That thou wilt be the foremost / my sorrows to requite."
Thereto spake the margrave: / "Lady, to thee my word I plight."

1258

With all his men together / sware then Ruediger
Faithfully to serve her, / and in all things whatsoe'er
Naught would e'er deny her / the thanes from Etzel's land,
Whereof she might have honor: / thereto gave Ruediger his hand.

1259

Then thought the faithful lady: / "Since I thus have won
Band of friends so faithful, / care now have I none
How shall speak the people / in my sore need of me.
The death of my loved husband / perchance shall yet avenged be."

1260

Thought she: "Since hath Etzel / so many knights and true,
An shall I but command them, / whate'er I will I do.
Eke hath he such riches / that free may be my hand:
Bereft of all my treasure / by Hagen's faithless art I stand."

1261

Then spake she unto Ruediger: / "Were it not, as I do know,
The king is yet a heathen, / so were I fain to go
Whithersoe'er he willed it, / and take him for my lord."
Thereto spake the margrave: / "Lady, no longer hold such word.

1262

"Such host he hath of warriors / who Christians are as we,
That beside the monarch / may care ne'er come to thee.
Yea, may he be baptized / through thee to Christian life:
Well may'st thou then rejoice thee / to be the royal Etzel's wife."

1263

Then spake again her brother: / "Sister, thy favor lend,
That now all thy sorrow / thereby may have an end."
And so long they besought her / that full of sadness she
Her word at length had plighted / the monarch Etzel's wife to be.

1264

She spake: "You will I follow, / I most lorn lady,
That I fare to Hunland, / as soon as it may be
That I friends have ready / to lead me to his land."
Before the knights assembled / fair Kriemhild pledged thereto her hand.

1265

Then spake again the margrave: / "Two knights do serve thee true,
And I thereof have many: / 'tis easy thing to do,
That thee with fitting honor / across the Rhine we guide.
Nor shalt thou, lady, longer / here in Burgundy abide.

1266

"Good men have I five hundred, / and eke my kinsmen stand
Ready here to serve thee / and far in Etzel's land,
Lady, at thy bidding. / And I do pledge the same,
Whene'er thou dost admonish, / to serve thee without cause for shame.

1267

"Now bid with full equipment / thy horses to prepare:
Ruediger's true counsel / will bring thee sorrow ne'er;
And tell it to thy maidens / whom thou wilt take with thee.
Full many a chosen warrior / on the way shall join our company."

1268

They had full rich equipment / that once their train arrayed
The while that yet lived Siegfried, / so might she many a maid
In honor high lead with her, / as she thence would fare.
What steeds all rich caparisoned / awaited the high ladies there!

1269

If till that time they ever / in richest dress were clad,
Thereof now for their journey / full store was ready made,
For that they of the monarch / had such tidings caught.
From chests longtime well bolted / forth the treasures rich were brought.

1270

Little were they idle / until the fifth day,
But sought rich dress that folded / secure in covers lay.
Kriemhild wide did open / all her treasure there,
And largess great would give she / unto the men of Ruediger.

1271

Still had she of the treasure / of Nibelungenland,
(She weened the same in Hunland / to deal with bounteous hand)
So great that hundred horses / ne'er the whole might bear.
How stood the mind of Kriemhild, / came the tidings unto Hagen's ear.

1272

He spake: "Since Kriemhild never / may me in favor hold,
E'en so here must tarry / Siegfried's store of gold.
Wherefore unto mine enemies / such mickle treasure go?
What with the treasure Kriemhild / intendeth, that full well I know.

1273

"Might she but take it thither, / in sooth believe I that,
'Twould be dealt out in largess / to stir against me hate.
Nor own they steeds sufficient / the same to bear away.
'Twill safe be kept by Hagen / --so shall they unto Kriemhild say."

1274

When she did hear the story, / with grief her heart was torn.
Eke unto the monarchs / all three the tale was borne.
Fain would they prevent it: / yet when that might not be,
Spake the noble Ruediger / in this wise full joyfully:

1275

"Wherefore, queen full stately, / weep'st thou o'er this gold?
For thee will King Etzel / in such high favor hold
When but his eyes behold thee, / to thee such store he'll give
That ne'er thou may'st exhaust it: / that, lady, by my word believe."

1276

Thereto the queen gave answer: / "Full noble Ruediger,
Greater treasure never / king's daughter had for share
Than this that Hagen from me / now hath ta'en away."
Then went her brother Gernot / to the chamber where the treasure lay.

1277

With force he stuck the monarch's / key into the door,
And soon of Kriemhild's treasure / they from the chamber bore
Marks full thirty thousand / or e'en more plenteously.
He bade the guests to take it, / which pleased King Gunther well to see.

1278

Then Gotelinde's husband / of Bechelaren spake:
"An if my Lady Kriemhild / with her complete might take
What treasure e'er came hither / from Nibelungenland,
Ne'er a whit would touch it / mine or my royal lady's hand.

1279

"Now bid them here to keep it, / for ne'er the same I'll touch.
Yea brought I from my country / of mine own wealth so much,
That we upon our journey / may be full well supplied,
And ne'er have lack in outlay / as in state we homeward ride."

1280

Chests well filled a dozen / from the time of old
Had for their own her maidens, / of the best of gold
That e'er ye might discover: / now thence away 'twas borne,
And jewels for the ladies / upon the journey to be worn.

1281

Of the might she yet was fearful / of Hagen grim and bold.
Still had she of mass-money / a thousand marks in gold,
That gave she for the soul's rest / of her husband dear.
Such loving deed and faithful / did touch the heart of Ruediger.

1282

Then spake the lady mournful: / "Who now that loveth me,
And for the love they bear me / may willing exiles be,
Who with me to Hunland / now away shall ride?
Take they of my treasure / and steeds and meet attire provide."

1283

Then did the margrave Eckewart / answer thus the queen:
"Since I from the beginning / of thy train have been,
Have I e'er right faithful / served thee," spake the thane,
"And to the end I'll ever / thus faithful unto thee remain.

1284

"Eke will I lead with me / five hundred of my men,
Whom I grant to serve thee / in faithful way again.
Nor e'er shall we be parted / till that we be dead."
Low bowing thanked him Kriemhild, / as verily might be his meed.

1285

Forth were brought the horses, / for that they thence would fare.
Then was a mickle weeping / of friends that parted there.
Ute, queen full stately, / and many a lady more
Showed that from Lady Kriemhild / to part did grieve their hearts full
sore.

1286

A hundred stately maidens / with her she led away,
And as for them was fitting, / full rich was their array.
Many a bitter tear-drop / from shining eye fell down:
Yet joys knew they full many / eke in Etzel's land anon.

1287

Thither came Sir Giselher / and Gernot as well,
And with them train of followers, / as duty did compel.
Safe escort would they furnish / for their dear sister then,
And with them led of warriors / a thousand brave and stately men.

1288

Then came the valiant Gere, / and Ortwein eke came he:
Rumold the High Steward / might not absent be.
Unto the Danube did they / night-quarters meet provide.
Short way beyond the city / did the royal Gunther ride.

1289

Ere from the Rhine they started / had they forward sent
Messengers that full quickly / unto Hunland went,
And told unto the monarch / how that Ruediger
For spouse at length had won him / the high-born queen beyond compare.

TWENTY-FIRST ADVENTURE

How Kriemhild fared to the Huns

1290

The messengers leave we riding. / Now shall ye understand
How did the Lady Kriemhild / journey through the land,
And where from her were parted / Gernot and Giselher.
Upon her had they waited / as faithful unto her they were.

1291

As far as to the Danube / at Vergen did they ride,
Where must be the parting / from their royal sister's side,
For that again they homeward / would ride unto the Rhine.
No eye but wet from weeping / in all the company was seen.

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